Your Daily Guide

UPMC’s New 4-Week Parental Leave Policy

The new policy gives employees four weeks of paid parental leave, up from the current two. This comes as Magee nurses negotiate their first union contract and push for better benefits, staffing ratios, and workplace protections. UPMC says it “regularly evaluates” employee benefits as “workforce needs evolve.” Nurses say four weeks is an improvement, but it still doesn’t reflect the realities of recovery from childbirth and caring for a newborn — something they see firsthand at Magee. [TribLive / Public Source]

• It’s part of a bigger fight at Magee. More than 900 nurses and advanced practitioners voted to unionize last year and have been negotiating with UPMC since January. One major ask is better nurse-to-patient staffing standards. Nurses say they’re often stretched too thin to spend enough time with patients, while UPMC argues fixed staffing ratios can limit hospitals’ flexibility. [WESA]
• Nurses and supporters want the hospital’s board to hold its annual meeting in-person and hear directly from providers and patients. The Oct. 12 meeting is virtual. [UPMC]

Past-Due Water Bills Could Disappear

Pittsburgh Water will freeze and eventually erase overdue balances for eligible customers who make on-time payments for two years. Households must make less than 200% of the federal poverty line to qualify for the program — that’s $31,920 for an individual or $66,000 for a family of four. [WESA / PGH2O]

Mandatory Fun for PA Elementary Schoolers

All K-5 students in Pennsylvania must now receive at least 30 minutes of recess every day. Sixth graders are included if they attend school in the same building. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed the requirement into law. [WHYY]

Pittsburgh Summit Tackles Extremism

The Eradicate Hate Global Summit returns to Downtown today through Thursday, with experts examining online radicalization, AI-assisted attack planning, and the growing threat of violence targeting public and political figures. The summit grew as a response to Pittsburgh’s 2018 synagogue shooting. [Eradicate Hate /🔒Post-Gazette]

Renamed Street Honors Local Jazz Legend

A stretch of East Liberty Boulevard is now Mary Lou Williams Way, honoring the pioneering pianist from East Liberty who set an example for Black women in jazz. Williams recorded more than 100 records throughout her 60-year career. [TribLive / City Cast Pittsburgh]